WATERSHED VICTORIA

WINTER WHALE WATCH 2011 LAUNCH

KILCUNDA HALL
2pm, Sunday 29 May

It’s whale watching time again. Watershed Victoria is launching Winter Whale Watch 2011. At the launch you will be able to find out more about last year’s sightings, how to identify different whale species and where are the best whale viewing locations in South Gippsland.

You can phone/sms your sightings to the Whale Watch hotline: 0438 646 677

Watershed volunteers are getting organised over the next few weeks (Easter onwards) to protect the young shearwater birds leaving the Bass Coast for their annual migration to the Arctic (read more in Bulletin No11 on the Watershed website).

Training for monitoring around the plant and between Wonthaggi and Kilcunda Saturday 23rd April 2011. Meet at the Lower Powlett carpark at 6.30pm. Bring warm cloths, torches and good humor. Further details ring 0413 902571.

You may have seen the large notice on pages 28-29 of this week’s Sentinel Times with information about the Phillip Island Nature Park Open Day on 27 March.

Many interesting activities have been organised. Of particular interest to Watershed members are the Shearwaters at Sunset event at 6.30pm and the two sessions about Little Penguins at Sea (11am and 4pm). The shearwaters will shortly be departing on their annual migration and the lights and structures of the desalination plant are particularly hazardous for young birds.

It should also be interesting to find out about where penguins are feeding in relation to the desal.

As you all well know, we have endured during these past four years a pig-headed cover-up Government that would not consult, explain, listen, engage, and thankfully they are now gone. We have been vindicated.

Here’s hoping the new Government brings a fresh approach to water, a sustainable water future.

There are published signs of change.

Premier Ted Bailleu on Stateline before the election, and the wider media afterward, has undertaken to release the full desal contract if legally allowed, and to examine if the project can be scaled back which would bring cost savings, environmental savings, and an opportunity for other water options to be advanced in the future.

I welcome too the appointment of Peter Walsh as the Minister in charge of water Statewide, a positive step away from factionalised city/country water policy and projects.

Thankyou to everyone who has helped bring this change about, and we look forward to a new era of politics with prospect of new water beginnings.

best wishes everyone for a merry Christmas, a happy New Year, and the end of a long drought in respect both of rainfall and inept Government.